TlIK VICTORIAls' NATCRAL19T 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The usual looutlilj laeethig' of the Club i\-as held in the Royal 

 S(K-ioty's Hall, on Monday evening, 21st inst.— Mr. T. A. F. Leith,. 

 oue of the Vice-Presidents, presiding, and, considering th.e inclement 

 weatlier that prevailed, tliere "was a very good attendance of 

 members. 



CoimEsroNDEXCE. — From the Secretary of the Entomological 

 Department of the Warren K'atiiral History Rooms, Wai-ren, Mass.,. 

 L^.S., inviting i)iterchange of specimens. The Secretary to reply 

 that, as the Club had no collection of its o-svn, it could not comply 

 with the invitation, but would endeavour, to induce individual 

 members to take up the matter. 



Members Elected.— Messrs. G. R. Hill, E. Shields, T. H. Ord, 

 A. Borthwick, and Miss K. Coghill. 



Nominations for Membership. — Messrs. Clarence IIIcIcs and 

 P. Cecchi. 



Papers Promised.—'' Victorian Orchids," part 4, by C. French; 

 continuation of "Experiences of an Old Net," by Dr. T. P. Lucas;. 

 and on a subject unnamed, by IT. Watts. 



The following paj)erswere read: — ByC. French, " A few Remarks- 

 on a Curious Insect Phenomenon that Recently Occurred in his 

 Specimen Room ;" by J. F. Bailey, on " A New Species of Gordius^ 

 or Hair Worm." Over this paper considerable discussion took 

 place, principally on the subject of the life-histories of ]>arasitie 

 worms, the chief speakers being Messrs. Judd, Watts, J, F. Roberts, 

 A. H. Lucas, and Dr. T. P. Lucas. Mr. Bailey mentiont-d that 

 worms similar to the one shown and described by him ;had been 

 found in the Yarra and the Yan Yean, and apprehended that 

 fatality might arise to persons drinking these waters, and so absorb- 

 ing the ova ; but it was pointed out th.it it had been proved 

 unquestionably that there was not the slightest probability of danger. 

 He also mentioned that it was on record that a very longhair-worm 

 had been found in a small carabus beetle, and Mr. Judd stated that 

 lie himself had taken one from the body of a spider. In the course 

 , of the discussion, Mr. Watts alluded to, and denied, the general 

 belief that infusoria existed in the Yan Yean, as he had thoroughly 

 satisfied himsell' that they do not. 



The ftu-niation of a Postal j\Iicroscopical Society, similar to tlie 

 one established in England, was advocated by Mr. Watts, who 

 explained that the main object of the society was the transmission 

 tlirough the post, from mendier to member, of mounted specimens 

 for examination, and then ultimate return to a recoa:nised head 



